I think I'm going to genuinely enjoy writing this story, I mean i feel there's a lot of potential here but we'll see. The story will be taking place before the shattering of the Elden Ring. Also this story will have a mature rating and this chapter will be graphic, it will deal with rape. So I'm warning you. proceed with caution. This is my personal interpretation of the lands between before the shattering. Don't get me wrong the lands between after the shattering was no doubt a hell but even before the shattering the lands between wasn't a nice place either plus there will be some oc characters along with a few characters that will be born earlier than there supposed to. Anyway if this story isn't for you I understand and I hope you have a good day.

Death was a strange concept..strange indeed. The reason why was because no one knew what happened after death. Was there an after life? If so where did you go? heaven or hell? If there wasn't an after life did you just float in endless space? Was your consciousness still there but you couldn't move your body? Or..did you just simply..cease exist?

Spartan B-312 or more known by his call sign Noble 6 found his answer and none of these were correct though one was close. He was floating..he didn't understand how but it felt as if he was floating on water. He couldn't see anything nor could he hear anything..but he didn't mind it. The Darkness always gave him a strange sense of comfort. It was weird really to someone else this would've been hell..and maybe it was but not for him. His afterlife gave him time to reflect on his life, The good and the bad.

The Spartan didn't know how long he just stared into the endless void and contemplated his life actions but it wasn't as if it mattered anyway after all there was no doubt in his mind he would be in this state of limbo for all eternity. Or so he thought.

6 Blinked when a small golden light formed in his vision. He frowned as he stared at it, His mind ran over a hundred different possibilities within a few seconds and yet..he couldn't find an answer for what reason of this golden light sudden appearance and then he felt a tug..

Six blinked as he felt himself start to be pulled towards the golden light. He tried to fight, he really did but there wasn't much he could do. And suddenly a voice invaded his mind.

"Warrior from a distant land you shall do my bidding"

Alarms went off in the Spartans head. Whose voice was that? Where did it come from? It didn't take the Spartan long to realize the voice came from the Golden light and then suddenly a blast of light shot towards the Spartan. Six closed his eyes expecting to feel pain but instead he felt as if his very being was someone tampered with. As the Spartan opened his eyes he blinked in confusion his body was jerked forward towards the golden light.

"Thou will help my order remain in control of the lands between, And stop the foolishness of Queen Marika, And the Empyrean Ranni who has yet to be born."

The Spartans eyes narrowed as he flew closer to the light. This entity..believed he would just serve him? Who decided that? His only alliance was with the UNSC and ONI and it would remain that way even in death.

Before the Spartan could respond he finally made it to the golden light and then everything went black...

Systems Rebooting..

Ai: None found..

Life support systems: Working at 100%

Energy Shielding: 100%

Spartan combat effectiveness: 100%

Six Blinked his bleary eyes as his helmet ran his suits diagnostics infront of him. Where was he? Why was he back in his Mljinor? And why were the clouds growing smaller..

With a grunt the Spartan managed to turn his body over and laid eyes on what lay before him. Six eyes widened just a bit as he realized the situation he was in.

The ground..it was coming fast, much too fast for his liking. Six needed to soften his landing, It was indeed possible for a Spartan to survive this fall but it wasn't guaranteed and that was with there armor fully functional right now his Mljinor was still running diagnostics.Thinking quick Spartan brought his legs to his chest and then wrapped his arms around legs holding them in position. The Spartan lowered his head and rested it against his knees. If one was to look up it would look like a shooting star was flying through the sky..

Temperature regulation: Functional...

The Spartans velocity only increased. Luck must have been on his side because right now it looked like he was on fire..he was sure he would've been baked alive in his suit.

Energy Shielding: Functional...

The ground was closing in..the Spartan could see it out of corners of his golden visor now almost being covered by flames. If he had to estimate he was about three thousand feet in the air.

Motion tracking:functional...

two thousand feet now..and he was only speeding up.

Minor functions: Functional...

eight hundred feet now..he could now fully tell by his suit constantly calculating his altitude.

Waste reusal: Functional..

Five hundred feet now..despite the Spartans training under high intensity situation he couldn't help but feel a bead of sweat fall down the side of his face.

Armor locking:Functional...

Three hundred feet The Spartan would be lying if he was to say he wasn't relieved to hear that.

Mljinor one hundred present functional..surface detected less than a hundred feet. Activating Armor lock.

The Spartan felt his suit lock up. Six knew the ground was less than a few feet away. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth preparing himself for the incoming impact. He didn't have to wait long either, Mere seconds later a loud boom rang out. Despite his preparation the Spartan felt his skull hit the side of his helmet. It wasn't by much but it was enough to knock the Spartan unconscious...

Nepheli was Scared..

There was no doubt about it. She was absolutely petrified and the gag in her mouth and the cloth binding her legs and arms didn't help. She had long been stripped of her armor and now she was only clothed in a loin cloth and a bra.

She and her companions had been ambushed, Caught off guard. At first she had thought there ambushers to be thugs, Random bandits that could easily be dispatched of..She was wrong..So very wrong.

Their aggressors had shown themselves to be more than competent. They were no ordinary Bandits and they had proved that in combat..they killed the men and any woman they found to their liking they kept alive.

Nepheli looked away as she saw a group of these..bandits drag a young woman deep inside their camp. She kicked, clawed, begged for her god to help, and begged for mercy..

There was no answer. she tore her eyes away as the sound of cloth ripping rang in the air. Minutes later the sound of a woman wailing in pain met her ears. Her heart sunk feeling sympathy for the young woman. Was this to be her fate too?

To be violated? Taken advantage of and be used as some sort of toy or stress reliever before being put down like some dog? She wanted to cry really..but she couldn't let herself show weakness now. It was most likely what these beasts wanted. To break them, See who would last the longest. Her train of thought was broken when she saw a group of eight men carry some large figure..

She didn't know what she was looking at. Was it man or some form of machine or armor? She didn't know, But what she did know was whatever it is, is heavy enough where eight men were needed to carry it. They carried it off to the side where they kept their other valuables and tossed whatever it was to the side. It crashed to the ground with a loud thud that made even her wince from a distance away.

Another ear piercing wail rung out. She was reminded of the situation she was in..and despite herself..she felt her lip quiver. God's she just wanted to make herself smaller..non existent but that wasn't possible in her case. A Shadow fell over her..and she knew...it was her turn.

Six eyes shot open when a woman's scream pierced through his suit's speaker system, Only years of training stopped him from jumping up and alerting everyone he was awake along with his armor being locked. To his luck he was in an up right position. His Keen eyes boar out of his visor scanning his surroundings...

He blinked, His jaw slightly slackened. Just where was he? He stared out of his visor examining what seemed to be a camp of sorts. Multiple wales of women rung through his speaker system. He listened, His wasn't startled nor disturbed by that. Infact he'd heard far worse though those woman's screams were concerning,the reason why he was slightly surprised was in front of him now men walked around in medieval armor

His mind ran multiple scenarios in his head but they were eventually stopped when out of the corner of his visor, deep into the camp as night slowly fell he saw the outline of a man forcing a woman down in a tent..and had his way with her.

The Spartan stared at the scene with a blank face. His face showed no emotion..it was almost like he was emotionless..but under that emotionless facade was a small fire burning into an inferno. The Spartan gaze shifted to the guards patrolling. He didn't like it..but he would have to wait to ensure less casualties. He didn't know their pattern but he would figure it out. The Spartans armor unlocked on his mental command but he remained in the same position, watching..waiting, planning like a predator readying himself for a hunt.

It didn't take long, six to seven minutes really but he'd found the main guards guarding patterns. Before he could react one of his many too soon become his victims walked in front of a young fare skinned lady. He knew what he was planning. He wouldn't let her be the next victim. No, not while he could do something about it.

He moved..and no one saw.

Nepheli heard it. The sound of her soon to be violator trousers drop. It was sickening, She felt a hand grab her from under her chin. The appendage moved to force her head up. She yanked her head to the side in defiance.

She was rewarded with a hard slap across her face. The appendage shot out again and forced her to look up at her soon to be violator.

The bastard was ugly. He smiled down at her with his golden teeth, She could see the black dots on the mans teeth along with more than a few being messing, He had a big nose with a multitude of bumps on it and the bastards eyes..well one was looking the other way from where she was sure he was staring. His free hand shot into his pouch and pulled out a rusty dagger. He didn't raise it high..no he trailed it down her cleavage until reaching her bra, He then trailed it along side bra before stopping under it. She closed her eyes for a split second, hoping to whatever God this was only a nightmare and not reality. She felt the graze of wind shoot up and her bra loosen. if her arms weren't bound she would have tried to cover her breast to conserve what was left of her modesty But they weren't free were they?

She saw the man close his eyes and lean his head back as if he was preparing to indulge in a bit of heaven. His grip shifted from her chin to the back of her head. She tried to pull her head back but the man's grip was too strong. She felt her head slowly be pulled to the man's dick. she closed her eyes as her eyes watered. she silently prayed for anybody, be they God or even monster to help her..and just as the man's reproductive organ almost touched her lips she felt the man's grip on the back of her head slacken and then a soft thud. At first she didn't dare to open her eyes but then a liquid fell on her..she sniffed, a metallic smell greeted her. She dared to open an eye and what she saw there shocked her.

The man's face was gone, what greeted her was a metallic gauntlet through the man's head. Her startled eyes followed the metallic fist and then..she saw it. The man or armor or whatever it was punched straight through her soon to be violator skull. Whatever it was pulled it's fist free before tossing the man to the side like a sack of potatoes. It stared down at her, it just stood there, staring and then..it dared to take a step. She squirmed back. It stopped before slowly bringing up its armored gauntlets in a universal peace sign.

It took another step, She flinched. It stopped before slowly falling to a knee bringing itself to her level. Despite herself she felt herself gulp. She now found herself eye level with the being and yet..it didn't make a move to assault her. The beings hand moved, Slow as if not to alarm her. It yanked the tunic off the deceased man and slowly moved towards her. She flinched, The being stopped for a second before continuing. She squinted her eyes as the being moved its hands towards her. She felt soft fabric touch her breasts, then wrap around her chest to her back. She felt a tug as if it was being tied and then nothing..she creaked an eye open to see the being still kneeling in front of her but now its hands resting on one of his knees.

She looked down and blinked, fabric was wrapped around her breast preserving a bit of her modesty. She blinked and looked up to see the figure still kneeling there. She opened her mouth to speak, to ask what are they or why did they help her but before she could and armored finger pressed against her lips silencing her. She blinked in confusion and then the figure spoke.

"Stay here, keep quiet and don't draw attention."

The figure said In a low yet firm tone. This voice was one of a man that held power. An armored gauntlet moved down, grabbed the rusty dagger the man dropped before pushing itself up.

"I'll be back shortly to free you and other prisoners of your binds.

That was the last thing the figure said before they moved towards the wall now almost becoming invisible..blending in with the Shadows. This day would forever be engraved into Nepheli's mind, It would haunt her at times, the screams of women begging forced onto..but it would also harden her. It would make her train harder to uphold justice and what she believed was right..but this was also the day when a lone wolf gained one of his first followers.

Six moved in with purpose, Despite his amazing size and weight he didn't make a sound. He stalked his prey as night fell, He let the walls guide him. Six watched as a guard turned a corner, now it was his time to strike. He moved with grace, As the guard went to walk down his route an armor hand covered his mouth muffling any sound he would make.The man tried to fight back, he really did but all of his attacks were ineffective, his assailant was far too powerful. With a swift twist a small crack rang out..the man's body fell limp and Six moved. He dragged the man's body deep into the shadows of the night.

Six crouched behind a group of crates watching as a guard walked past him unaware. He acted, he sprung forward and grabbed the man by his neck, Six covered his mouth muffling him before bringing his rusty dagger to the man's neck and slitting his throat. The man kicked, clawed, gurgled on his own bloody but soon the man's attempts to break free slowed and finally stopped all together.

Six pulled his dagger free before dragging the man behind the crates.

"Wait no please! Not my daughter! I'll do anything! take m-"

A brown hair woman's head was whipped to the side by a punch.A purple mark formed on her cheek that started to swell.

"Mothe-"

A hand clasped over the little girl's mouth quieting her.

"By Marika's tits this one never shuts up!"

A bandit said as he covered the girl's mouth.

"David, what do we do with the whore of a mother? She's been more trouble than what she's worth."

A tall broad man who sat on a large crate looked up from his dagger. He spun around the dagger in his hand before placing it on its holster on his right thigh. A small deranged chuckle escapes the man.

"Hm..I say we cut the whores tongue out and force her to watch as her daughter is taken advantage of before bashing her brains out with a brick..fitting punishment no?"

The brown haired woman's eyes widened in horror. Her body moved on instinct, Even when bounded she managed to move. She flung her body forward towards her daughter that was being held by a bandit. She tried to fling herself forward again but stopped in her tracks by an iron boot stomping down on her back. A loud cry of pain escaped her as water formed in her eyes as the boot with lift and slammed back down on her back causing a small pop. Another cry of pain escaped her as tears fell freely from her eyes.

The lands between is a dangerous place to live, cruel and unforgiving..and when you lived in a village far from the capital..bandits struck more often.

You didn't have the same protection..and so villages on the outside of the continent were constantly at risk of raid and being destroyed and what was happening now was one of the many things that happened daily. The bandits..they'd attack her village and killed any who got in their way and raided their houses, took their goods and the village's women as a reward.

A low sob came from the brown haired mother.

An annoyed grunt came from the man with a boot on her back. "I think we broke the bitch..ah oh well let's get started lads."

A hand yanked on her hair causing her head to be lifted. She stared up the large broad man, He had a sinister look on his face as he pulled his dagger from his holster. He leaned down a bit as he brought the dagger closer to her. She closed her eyes waiting for fate, She had long given up hope. She prayed to the gods..there was no answer.

-I suppose this is how it's supposed to be..such a twisted fate..it's like the universe enjoys our suffering..please if anybody or anything is listening..please save my daughter!-

The brown haired mothers eyes snapped open as her daughter screamed. A small thud happened seconds after.

"What is that.."

The hand on her hair slanked, it was just enough for her to be able to move her head down just a bit and what she saw shook her. Standing there was a large hulking figure in some type of futuristic Dark grey armor. In the middle of its helmet was some sort of golden "glass" or so she believed. Blood stained its armor. Her eyes trailed down and laying there was th-..oh God she felt as if she was going to throw up. laying there was the headless form of a bandit, his head was knocked clean off. Blood spewed from the headless body forming a small puddle under it.

Footsteps rang out, Bandits clad in iron armor along with some in tunic's who were hastily pulling up their pants ran to the scene. They carried an assortment of weapons from great swords to axes.

The being clad in an unfamiliar armor merely tilted his head just enough to look over his shoulder. Before anyone could react he was gone, moving faster than the naked eye could see leaving a trail of blood in his wake.

Six moved. His motion tracker picked up two dozen Bandits. He rushed forward and in the end..he drew first blood. His rusty dagger slit the throat of a bandit standing over a brown haired lady. He didn't give the others the chance to even register, he was already moving onto his next target.

A bandit brought up a battle axe and ran forward. Idiotic, he had just left his team to rush forward. This left an opening for Six and he took advantage of it. He met the man head on.Six dagger struck like a serpent, as the man went for a downwards slash Six sidestepped. His dagger flew under the man's chin into his skull, Six pulled his dagger free and moved on. The next Bandit had armor, it wasn't a problem. Six brought a leg up and slammed it into the man's chestplate. It caved in, the chestplate and his chest. Blood flew from the man's mouth as he collapsed to the floor. The man's eyes were almost bugged out of their sockets.

Finally what was left of bandits took in the situation they were in and let out roars of outrage before charging him.

Swords, axes, maces swung at Six. They were all swiftly evaded. Six spun around an armored bandit and delivered a elbow to the back of the man's neck. SNAP. His neck was broken. A kick shot out. It utterly caved in a man's chest. punches and kicks flew, bones shattered, skulls were caved in, ribcage were utterly shattered. Within a span of seconds two dozen Bandits were cut down to half a dozen.

Six ducked under a swing of battle axe. Taking in the opening left at the man's lower torso Six brought back a fist before throwing it forward. His fist went through the man's lower torso all the way out through his back.

Five left. Six freed his arm before rolling out of the way of a Warhammer. The Warhammer struck just where he had been standing. The Spartan looked back to see the left over guards. they had various looks. Two had a look of pure rage, One of apprehension and the last two of pure fear. they were cowering in their boots, absolutely shaking like a leaf.

That was fine. Made them far easier to pick off. let the slaughter begin..

The brown haired mother let out a grunt as she tossed herself forward. She was so close now.

"Dear! look away!"

her daughter didn't. She stared at the violence in front of her. her expression was blank, no doubt she was in shock by the violence being conveyed

Thud. in her peripheral vision she saw a headless body fall to the ground. It only caused her to put more effort into her action. Another lunge this one carried her to her target. She moved herself in front of her frozen daughter and shielded her from violence only feet away..and suddenly the world went quiet. Only for a moment.. then footsteps echoed through the camp a second later, they were heavy. Her breath quickened, she breathing itself became a forced action in itself. The footsteps stop. ideally she noticed a large Shadow towering over her. So this was the end huh? To be slaughtered just like those pigs..well maybe it was better like this..

What more did she have? Her home was ravaged, Her husband killed. She was shaking now. Her mother had died way before this but her father..oh her poor father. They had utterly tortured the man before putting him out of his misery. What did she have left? Tears were falling freely now. A small sniffle caught he attention.

Right..she still had her..her little Sophie. Dirt in front of her crunched. Her head snapped up much to her surprise and horror was the walking iron clad creature that reassembled a man. She fell back and her daughter made a small whimpering noise. The being In front of her only tilted his head? Helmet? She didn't know but she felt like she was being analyzed. She didn't like it. No not one bit and then the being brought out his dagger. She froze. Her eyes widened. She wanted to at least fight back. For her? No..but at least for her daughter. But at last she wasn't in a position where she could do so. The moment she froze its dagger flew.

Swish

She expected to feel pain. She didn't. No quite the opposite really. The bonds that held her wrist closed together were cut. She blinked as she felt her arms fall to the side freely. Soon after the bonds that bound her legs together were cut too.

An armor gauntlet caught grabbed one of her arms and pulled it up. She flinched, She tried to pull back the grasp her arm was being held in was strong. She blinked as she stared at the armored being. He held her arm in a strong grasp indeed but there was something gentle about it..as if it was being careful not to cause her anymore pain. It moved it's dagger towards her again but this time she didn't flinch. It..no she should stop calling this being an it..after all it was more man, more human than this lot. This Man carefully moved his dagger under the cloth that was still around her wrists slowing her blood flow and cut at it. He slowly but surely cut through the bond and gently placed her arm to rest at her side before moving to her other wrist. Soon after he moved to the bonds that slowed the blood flow in her feet.

Not even a second later he started cutting the bonds around her dumbstruck daughter with almost infinite care. Could she blame her daughter for feeling this way? No, not at all. Not even minutes ago she thought her daughter was going to be raped..and the suddenly some hulking behemoth coincidentally came out of nowhere and slaughtered her soon to be molesters of her daughter. There wasn't much time to process anything. Somehow she found her voice and her tongue slipped.

"W-who..who are you?"

Her voice was Shakey. She frowned at that but awaited an answer. She wasn't given one. The armored man continued with his action.

Snip.

The binds around her daughter's left wrist fell. He was already on the right one now. She barreled forward.

"What are you? Where did you come from?"

No dice. She persisted. "Why are you here?"

She didn't expect a response or anything now. She didn't know if this man was simply mute or if he just ignored her. But had her question the man stopped in his catch. For a second she thought she might have angered him in some way. He raised his helmet? head she still didn't know which but he still raised it. He stared up towards the night sky as if thinking on her question or a response..and finally he spoke...

"I don't know."

Three little words but somehow she knew so much from them. His voice was indeed powerful but yet soft..she could hear the confusion in his voice. It was as if he was just ripped out the sky and tossed down into the lands between. He was lost..like her and so many others and so..she sympathized with him. She Hadn't known when he had finished but with one last snip she found herself crashing to the ground due to her daughter.

"Mama!"

Instinctively she wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"Sophie!"

Mother and daughter embraced at long last. No binds were in their way and the armored figure watched. He stood over them like a guardian angel ready to attack if needed. She didn't know how long they stayed in that position, seconds, minutes, hours..she didn't care as long as she had her daughter..she was okay.

"Ma'am stay here and make sure your daughter is okay. I'll be back momentarily."

Their guardian moved with swiftness, Purpose. Within seconds he was gone, out of her line of vision.

"Mommy..who is that?"

Her ever curious daughter inquired. She didn't know his name, nor purpose..but to her she felt as if she knew just the title for him.

"Oh Sophie..that's our Guardian angel."

Scene.

Hope you enjoyed now if you read the warning I gave and the bit of information I gave you would understand Nepheli was born well before she was born in canon. Now this Nepheli is still quite young, around 16. Now Nepheli is still a warrior from the badlands but in this timeline she didn't meet Sir Gideon but she met someone else who took the role as father figure. They eventually found themselves in the lands between but sadly he's passed. anyway that's about it hope you have a good day.